Adjustable and reversible display device



June 27,1933. FREDEMANN 1,915,727

ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1930 June 27, 1933. M, M, FRIEDEMANN 1,915,727

ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 57 55 J5) 0 60 J4 .36 J4. ID'HImHH 5/ 53 29 355 32 I i wmmn l m June 27, 1933. FR|EDEMANN Y 1,915,727

ADJUSyABLE AND REVERSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 59 modated to stockshelving, glass plates, withclamp;

Patented June 27, 1933 rrsn STATES PATENT oF lca MATTHEW M. FRIEDEMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed June 16, 1930. Serial No. 461,453.

This invention relates to display devices; out previously preparing the same for attachmore particularly to display stands. ment to the display shelf supporting element It is an object of my invention to provide or bracket and to so hold the shelving mate a display stand which is suitable for display rial or plates in position as to give maximum purposes, particularly in combination with visibility about the article supporting the a show case, show window or counter and shelving and a desirable amount of clearance, which is susceptible of multitudinous ,uses particularly where the display device is used by a window dresser or show case dresser for in connection with a counter whereby the display of merchandise, permitting frequent same may give the attendant the requisite changes and adjustment of display, with amount of space to attend to customers in considerable facility and ease, from a single front of'the counter. V display element. 1 Other objects of my invention resi le in the It is a still further object of my invention provision of a combination display stand and to provide a combination display. stand and bracket element which may be usedto indebracket element which may independently pendently support shelving material, such support shelving material, such as glass, reas glass, whereby a simple number of stock quiring no preparation of the glass,'such as sizes and shapes of bracket elements may be drilling, to hold it in positionby means of a utilized to'hold a large number of shapes and single bracket, the bracketand standard supsizes of shelving material, with no prior porting the same being susceptible of a preparation or modification of the shelving great many adjustments and variations, thus material to rig1dly hold the same in position. permitting a manufacturer or user to stock St ll further objects of my invention rea simple number of sizes of brackets for use slde 1n the provision of a display device adwith various sizes and shapes of standards, mirably adaptable for assembly in connec-' providing such construction involving the tion with show cases or counters to readily minimum cost of production and consequent permit utilizationof the show case or couneconomy in manufacture. 7 ter and additionally provide a display area I; is contemplated by my invention to prowhich will form no obstruction to the clerk vide a display stand and bracket element serv ng behind the show case or counter and 30 therefor, each of whichis susceptible ofarat the same time give sufficient rigidity to f rangement to any height and may serve to the showcase and standard forming the enindependently, and by asingle bracket eletire device, with variations necessary for ment, support various shapes and sizes of addlng as many shelf supporting elements or shelvingmaterial, particularly glass, withbrackets asdes n ed, to give an enlarged disout requiring special finishing of the glass, play area. lt ls contemplated by myinven- 3 such as drilling, to hold it in position upon tion to associate wlt-h a display show case or the bracket, the bracket including a standcounter a standard for a shelf supporting eleard interlocking and engaging means for vament orbracket which is susceptible of a rious sizes and shapes of standards, as may wide variation of adjustment in distensibilbe desirable to support the bracket element ity for modification in accordance with vari- 99 for the various intended combinations in a ations of display. display, and including constructional fea- To attain these objects and such further tures which permit a manufacturer to use objects as may appear herein or be hereina simple number of standard parts to adapt after pointed out, I make reference to the the bracket to a multitudinous number of drawings forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view o my deuses.

It is still further contemplated by my in ,vlce;

vention to provide a display shelf support- Flgure 2 1s a fragmentary plan view;

ing member or bracket whichmay be accom- Figure 3 1s a perspective new of a corner Figure 4 is a plan view of my bracket in connection with a different shape of shelvs;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a standard engaging element;

Figure 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention, sh owing another form of a standard engaging element;

Figure 7 is a still further embodiment of my invention;

Figure 8 is a still further embodiment of my invention;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, taken in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 8, with the standard engaging element removed.

Making reference to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one cmbodiment of invention assembled with a store show case or counter 10, to the rear portion'whereof 11, there may be aflixed a standard 12, having a base 13 at the bottom portion thereof, suitably fastened to the floor by screws or the like, and held rigidly to the counter by straps 14 and 15. In the construction shown, the standard may be a metallic tubular member, substantially square in cross section and accordingly the straps14 and 15 are made to correspond thereto, the set screws 16 being utilized to hold the standard against sliding engage ment within the straps. Preferably, the standards are provided, both towards the rear and front face, with key hole orifices 1'7, and in the construction shown, where it is desired to increase the height of the'standard to any desired degree, it is preferred to provide telescopic sections 12a and 12?), which are also provided, at the front and rear faces, with the key hole orifices previously referred to.

For holding these telescopic members at predetermined hei hts, I provide a pin 18, arranged to be disposed over an edge 19 of the standard and through oppositely disposed key holes 17, to thereby serve to extend the standard to any desired length. This type of standard as so provided is particularly suitable for attachment in connection with a counter or show case 11, previously described, so that any desired height of standard may be projected above the level of the show case or counter.

For association with the standard as previously described, I provide a shelf supporting element or bracket 20, having a forwarl branch 21 and lateral branches 22 and 23, respectively, preferably made in the embodiment shown and illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, of metallic ribbon material whereby the same may be readily stamped and bent to the desired contour.

In the embodiment shown, a single ribbon of metal is centrally bent to form the branch 21 by folding along the corners 24 and 25, to provide the forward nose 26 and the side arms 27 and 28. Then the material is outwardly bent at 29 and 30, substantially at right angles to the arms 27 and 28, previously described, to form the extensions 31 and 32, the remainder of the material being inwardly turned to form loops 33 and 34, providing end walls 35 and 36, respectively. To the rear of the extensions 31 and 32 I aflix a stiifening strap 37, preferably provided with a pair of loops 38 and 39, for purposes which will appear more clearly as this description proceeds. The stiffening strap is affixed to the extensions 31 and 32 by rivets, such as 40 and 41.

To the rear of the assembly thus provided, I may afiix a standard engaging plate 42, shown more clearly in Figure 5, isolated from the rest of the assembly. The standard engaging plate as illustrated in Figure 5 is more particularly arranged for engagement with a standard whose cross section isrectangular or square. This plate comprises the side branches 43 and 44, orificed at 45 and 46, respectively, and is provided at its mid-section with a lug 47, having undercut portions 48. This is rigidly riveted in position at substantially the central portion of the plate. This lug 47 is arranged to pass through the circular portion of the key hole slots 17,- previously described, and then slid downwardly over the parallel walls of the key hole to prevent displacement.

The plate 42 has, at its lower portion, the inwardly directed side arms 49 and 50, spaced from each other to snugly fit the standard 12, shown in Figure 1. Through these side arms 49 and 50, I may provide screw threaded orifices 51, arranged to take the set screws 52.

In assembling a plate of this character, which may then be affixed to the rear portion of the bracket heretofore described by aligning the orifices 45 and 46- with complemental orifices 45 and 46, made in the branches 31 and 32, and the stiffening member 37, respectively, and through which orifices so aligned there is passed the screws 53.

The orifices 45 and 46 may, in this case, be. screw threaded where a temporary assembly of the plate 42 with the bracket is desired. However, the screws 53 may be replaced by riveted members, where a permanent engagement is desired.

A bracket so provided has then assembled therewith, in each of the branches 21, 22 and 23, shelf engaging fingers 54 and these'comprise an overlying loop 55, arranged to engage the edge of a shelf or plate 56, and a downwardly disposed lug 57, through which there is disposed the shank of a screw 58, leaving the screw head 59 abutting against the lug 57. The. opposite end of the shank is passed through orifices 26, 35 and 36, in the walls 26, 35 and 36, respectively, and

r, so

is held in position by a nut 59, bearing 7 against the interior wall of the supporting straps of the branch 21 and the loops 33 and 84, respectively.

-5 In this manner, the fingers 54,. as described, may be given a relative adjustment and tightening action over a shelf by merely turning the screw 58 and holding thenut 59", or vice versa.

The fingers disposed'from the branches 21, 22 and 23 Will serve to hold a plate 56 from shifting in the plane of the plate.

Disposed within the loops 38 and 39 I provide the fingers 60, of substantially L-shaped construction, with the-lower branch 61 riding freely within this loop. The shank of this branch 61 is screw threaded and over its free end I dispose a nut 62 to permit feeding. of the fingers and tighten the inwardly ex tended ends 63 over a shelf or plate member mounted upon the bracket. These ends 63 serve to hold the rear of theplate 56 against tilting and accommodate themselves to any variation in, thickness of the plate, as will be readily understood In Figure 4 I have referred to a bracket having similar shelf engaging fingers 54, particularly suitable in connection with a' rectangularly formed shelf or plate 56. In Figures 1 and 2, however, I have illustrated a bracket which has disposed thereon a semicircularly shaped plate 56. In connection with this construction, the loops 33 and 34 may have disposed to either side thereof, the shelf engaging fingers 54 of the character more particularly illustrated in Figure This construction includes a shank member, one endwhereof has a miter'ing corner 55 arranged to envelop the" corner of the semicircular shelf or plate 56. The opposite end of the shank is provided with a downwardly disposed lug 57, and an orifice 58, arranged to receive the shank of the screw 58, disposed through either of the loops 33 or 34, respectively. When assembled as illustrated in Fig- I ures 1 and 2, the fingers 54 are made in syncmetrical pairs, with 'mitering corners to fit oppositecorners of: the plate 56. When so positioned upon the plate 56, as illustrated in inpositi'on'against"lateral shift-ing jbytight-x eningthe bolt 58, to draw the fingers 54ftowards each other. This construction. will .not only serveto hold the plate in position upon the bracketbut will also protect the corners of the plate and guard the sharp corners of the shelving, when made of glass.

, The bracket as provided may be used upon the standard 12,.as described, with-the largest cross section. 7 However, where itis to be mounted upon any one of the telescopic sec- .tions 12a or 126, to prevent lateral tilting movement, the screws 52 are tightened againstthe standard of smaller diameter to Figure 1, with the fingers 54 fitting over the corners of the plate 56, the plate maybe held prevent lateral tilting movement, as will be readily understood. This construction also permitslthe use of the bracket engaging portion with a standard of still'smaller diameter, as shownat 12?), with a corresponding adjustmentof the set screws 52, to take care of the smaller sizes and thereby prevent lat eral tilting movement and provide a rigid assembly. As heretofore described, my assembly may be utilized in connection with rectangular or square standards. I may, if I so desire, removethe standard engaging plate 42' and substitute for the same, a standard engaging loop 42, as shown in Figure 6. This loop com prises the ears 43 and 44', having orifices 45a and-46a, corresponding substantially to those inthe plate 42 at 45 and 46. The orifices 45aand 46a, as so provided in the loop 42, are screw threaded to receive the screws 53,. to permit ready substitution of the plate 42 by'the loop 42, as will be readily understood. j i e 'l/Vhere I use the loop 42, it is contemplated by me to substitute for the standard 12 heretofore described,'a standard whosecross section is circular and as in the case of the square standard, I may provide aseries of telescopic tubular standards which are round in cross section, the largest of which may fit within the loop '42, adjustment being made for tubes of smaller diameter. by providingthe set screws52.,'which serve to take up any play between the loop 42 and the circular standard 12, upon which the bracket is mounted. 100, .These set screws 52 alsov serve to hold the bracket at any predetermined height upon the standard,'against sliding movement.

I "In Figure 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of. my invention comprising a bracket admirably suitable for supporting a shelf or plate-of triangular contour, useful in corners of show cases, store windows and the like positions, and wherein a shelf or plate, particularly of glass, may be held in 1110 v position by a single shelf supporting element ,or bracket. In this embodiment, a strip or ribbon of metal is bent to triangular shape, including right'angularly disposed sides 64 and'65, connected by a diagonal 'arm'66, .includinginterposed bearing'portions 67 and e 68, re'spectively, at whichpoints there may be disposed the orifices 69 and 7.0, for holding the she'lf'finger' clamps 54 bydisposing the shank 58 through the orifices 69 and 70,

respectively, positioning on the opposite side of the bearing portions 67 and 68, the nut The ribbon of metal referred to is of the same character of material as utilized in making the embodiment previously illustrated and referred to in Figures 1 to 6, respectively, and in the embodiment now referred toin Figure 7, the continuous triangular portion is made by spot welding the strip 'ofl130 material or otherwise connecting the free ends of the strip used.

To either side of the triangular members 64 and 65, l dispose a finger supporting loop 71, which is riveted or otherwise fastened to the side branches 64 and 65, and through the loop thus provided, there is passed the shelf engaging finger 60, of the characterheretofore referred to, whose threaded branch 61 is passed through the loop 71 and held in adjustable position by a nut 62. Since this member is identical with that utilized in connection with the embodiment previously illustrated, no further detailed description will be made thereof.

Adjacent one corner 72 of the triangular bracket described, there is provided a pair of orifices b and 465. These orifices are spaced to correspond substantially to the orifices 45 and 46 in the plate 42. Using these orifices as fastening elements, I attach a standard engaging plate, such as 42, previously described, by fastening elements, such as screws 53, through the orifices 45b and 465, respectively, engaging the orifices 45a and 46a in the ears 43 and 44. This bracket may be attached to a round standard 12, using the set screws 52, as previously indicated, to hold the same in position, and when so afiixed, shelving material, such as a plate of glass 5664, maybe mounted thereon, utilizing the fingers 54 to hold the same against lateral shifting movement, and the clamping fingers to prevent tilting movement.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the

bracket may be used in a left hand corner or a right hand corner, as desired, merely by reversing the position of the triangular bracket, as shown in dotted line. Thus, only one type of bracket need be used and modification made to take care of either the left hand corner or the right hand corner merely by reversing the position of the fingers 54 and 60, to be disposed adjacent that edge of the bracket which is to form the top, and

upon which is placed, in overlying position,

the plate or shelving material 56a.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10 l'have illustrated a still further embodiment of my invention wher in I provide a bracket in the form of a casting instead of the bent metal stamping heretofore described in constructing my bracket. In this embodiment, a T-shaped casting is provided with a forward branch 21a) and laterally extending branches 22a and 23a, to the end of whichbranches there are formed the downwardly disposed lugs 26a, 33a and 34a, suitably orificed at 26?), 35b and 36?), respectively. Through these orifices, there may be disposed shelf engaging fingers of the character heretofore described at 54, having screws 58 for mounting the same. the orifices formed therein, I may substitute instead of the shelf engaging fingers 54, the

Through the lugs 33% and 34a and mitering corners 54,-illustrated in Figure 3.

Rearwardly of the casting described and from the rear depending flange 73, 1, provide orifices 450 and 460, spaced to correspond substantially to the orifices 45 and 46 of the plate 42 and by means of these orifices I may optionally attach the standard engaging plate 42 or the standard engagingloop 42, as these orifices are made to interchangeably connect anyone of these members.

The loops 38a and 89a are suitably orificed to receive the fingers 60. and to hold the shank 61 thereof, and the adjusting screw 62 used in the embodiment previously described.

It will be observed that I have provided a display fixture of simple construction, which may be used to independently mount a shelving material or plate, preferably of glass, and hold the same in assembly with a standard therefor so that a shelf of clear upper supporting surface is provided, substantially freefrom any obstruction. The bracket or shelf supporting elements including standard engaging means may be adjusted to take various sizes of'standards, as well as shapes, so that the shelf supporting element or bracket may be afixed either to a square standard of various diameters, necessary for forming telescopic members, or a round or tubularv standard, as it may be found desirable to supply either construction, permitting shelving material, such as a plate of glass, to be mounted upon a single standard and held against independent tilting movement.

It will also be observed that by the construction provided, particularly in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-7, a bracket element is provided, made from simple metal stampings involvin low cost of manufacture and consequent economy in construction.

I-Iavingthus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a display device of the character de scribed, a bracket arranged for independently mounting a shelf or plate'against tilting relatively to a supporting standard, said bracket comprising a supporting arm and lateral stabilizing extensions. formed of bent metal straps intobearing portions adjacent the end of said arm and extensions.

2. In, a display device of thecharacter described, a bracket arranged for independently mounting a shelf or plate against tilting relatively to a supporting standard, said. 1 bracket comprising a supporting arm and bracket comprising a supporting arm and lateral stabilizing extensions formed of bent metal straps into bearing portions adjacent the end of said arm and extensions, and means formed in said bearing portions for mounting shelf gripping fingers, said last mentioned means being disposed below the supporting edge-of said arm and extensions,

whereby said shelf or plate may present an unobscured surface.

4. In a display device of the character described, a bracket'including standard engaging means to independently'hold a shelf or plate against tilting relativelyto said stand- :a ard, a continuous bent metal strap forming a supporting arm and lateral extensions, and loops formed in said extensions providing bearing portions for shelf or plate gripping members.

5. In a display device of the character described, in combination a supporting standard, a bracket therefor for independently mounting a shelf or plate against tilting movement, laterally extending branches for stabilizing said shelf or plate comprising bent metal straps and including-loops formed scribed, in combination, a supporting standard, a bracket therefor arranged to independently mount a shelf or plate, laterally extending branches for stabilizing said shelf or plate comprisinga substantially continuous bent metal strap including bearing portions and means for gripping a shelf or plate edge disposed. from said bearing portions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 5th day of May, 1930.

MATTH W M. FR'IEDEMANN. 

